Biography of john h shary mansion
John H. Shary
John H. Shary | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Harry Shary March 2, Wilber, Nebraska |
| Died | November 6, San Antonio, Texas |
| Resting place | Shary Memorial Chapel Mission, Texas |
| Known&#;for | "Father of the Texas Citrus Industry" |
| Spouse | Mary E.
O'Brien () |
| Children | Marialice (adopted) |
| Parent(s) | Robert and Rose Shary |
| Relatives | Vittitoe (Present Relating Family) |
John H. Shary (March 2, &#; ) was an American farmer and entrepreneur.
Early life
Shary's parents were Austrian immigrants who came to America and became pioneer farmers.
John Shary grew up and went to school in Crete, Nebraska. By the age of eighteen he had worked his way through college to become one of the youngest men certified as a pharmacist in that state.
Biography of john h shary mansion pictures Shary's parents were Austrian immigrants who came to America and became pioneer farmers. Shary was a man of vision…when he came to the Rio Grande Valley in , he looked at brush land and he saw opportunity. Wrapped in native brick painted white, the building would insulate itself in Mission's humid climate until the late s, when central air became practical. At the time it was largely brush and cactus , but Shary was impressed with citrus crops that were being grown by early citrus experimenters and felt that citrus was the crop of the future for Texas.When he was twenty-two, he accepted a job as a traveling salesman for a California drug company. His travels took him throughout the United States and Canada. While in Texas, he took notice of the great potential for land development. He first purchased 30, acres (&#;km2) of land between Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
The sale of this property earned him much profit and inspired him to enter the land development business.
Biography of john h shary mansion When he looked at empty acreage, he saw productive family farms. Wrapped in native brick painted white, the building would insulate itself in Mission's humid climate until the late s, when central air became practical. His travels took him throughout the United States and Canada. When he looked at small backyard orchards, he saw an industry.Life in Texas
In , Shary made his way to the Rio Grande Valley and realized the possibilities of this lush area. At the time it was largely brush and cactus, but Shary was impressed with citrus crops that were being grown by early citrus experimenters and felt that citrus was the crop of the future for Texas.
Citrus crops needed irrigation and in Shary purchased the First Lift Station which pumped life giving water from the Rio Grande to irrigate 15, acres (61&#;km2) of surrounding crops. The chimney from the lift station has been designated a Texas historical landmark and is still standing at the site of Chimney Park in Mission, Texas.
That following year Shary planted the first commercial citrus orchard. His first crops were seeded white grapefruit. His citrus empire would eventually grow to almost 15, acres (60&#;km2) of groves. The first commercial shipments of citrus, packed in onion crates, were shipped from the lower Rio Grande Valley in By much of the land had been transformed into citrus groves, and cotton, onion, and vegetable fields.
Biography of john h shary mansion photos By much of the land had been transformed into citrus groves, and cotton , onion , and vegetable fields. Shary Building. Shary took the lead in organizing and building the United Irrigation Company, in order to assure water supplies for future developments. This historical marker was erected in by Texas Historical Commission.Shary took the lead in organizing and building the United Irrigation Company, in order to assure water supplies for future developments.
Legacy
Because of his significant role in the development of the area, Shary was named to the Texas Business Hall of Fame and is remembered as the "Father of the Texas Citrus Industry".
He greatly assisted in the establishment of citrus as a productive commercial crop in the Rio Grande Valley. Since , the Texas Citrus Fiesta has been held to commemorate the abundant harvest of the Texas citrus industry. To this day, this area is known for producing some of the sweetest and best quality citrus in the world.
He purchased 36, acres (&#;km2) of land near Mission.
This area would later become known as "Sharyland." Also, the south end of Shary's estate, also formally known as "Shary Farms", was bought by Hunt Realty Corporation and developed into a suburban community by the name of Sharyland Plantation.
A landmark that still stands today is the Sharyland school, which he had built to educate the children of the many families who made their home in the area.
Shary was President of the Board of Trustees for Sharyland ISD. He served from its formation in until he retired in